Sheffield/Dronfield boxing: More titles loom for Lewis Taylor

Lewis Taylor’s lightning rise up the middleweight rankings could escalate even further in the New Year.

The Dronfield powerhouse says he will be competing for the Commonwealth and WBO Inter-Continental titles on February 13.

He expects to face WBO title holder Tommy Langford at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

Taylor, aged 25, only became English champion at 11 stones six pounds, in July when an injury stoppage after five rounds ended in him getting the judges’ verdict.

He went on to successfully defend it against Sheffield’s Jez Wilson in November- a fight which brought his rugged opponent’s career to a close.

Now promoter Dennis Hobson has told Taylor that he’s negotiated a battle with 26-year-old Birmingham-based Langford, who is unbeaten after 15 fights (five knockouts.)

Taylor (W18 L1 D1) will have to relinquish his much treasured English belt as it would have to be defended by April.

“That’s a shame, but I am definitely heading in the right direction” said Taylor. “The Commonwealth belt is a great one to have, it’s vacant at the moment and Langford got a sixth-in-the-world ranking with the WBO when he got that Inter-Continental belt. So a win in Liverpool would be a great step forward for me.”

The Derbyshire man expects the clash with Langford to be an awkward assignment.

“I imagine it will be a technical fight” he said. “I have seen a couple of videos of him, he is tall and a good boxer. But I am in this sport for the bigger belts and I hope to win this and then push on.”

* Promoter Eddie Hearn has been trying to negotiate a June 4 date for the potential super-star collision of 2016 - Kell Brook v Amir Khan at Wembley stadium.